Air conditioner having carbon dioxide reduction device

Abstract

The air conditioner having a carbon dioxide reduction device according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises: a carbon dioxide reduction device (100) for converting high-concentration carbon dioxide into low-concentration carbon dioxide by collecting carbon dioxide in the air; an air supply fan (200) for supplying air to an indoor space; a filter (400) for filtering a foreign substance comprising fine dust or a harmful substance in the air; a circulation air damper (500) into which the indoor air of the indoor space is introduced; an outdoor air damper (600) into which the outdoor air of an outdoor space is introduced; an exhaust fan (800) for exhausting air to the outside; and a carbon dioxide storage tank (900) for storing carbon dioxide in the air exhausted to the outside.

Description

Air conditioner equipped with a carbon dioxide reduction device

[0001] The present invention relates to an air conditioner equipped with a carbon dioxide reduction device, and more specifically, to an air conditioner equipped with a carbon dioxide reduction device that can maintain indoor air in a comfortable state at all times and contribute to the improvement of user health by converting the concentration of carbon dioxide contained in indoor or outdoor air to a level harmless to the human body and then recirculating it indoors or discharging it outdoors.

[0002] Generally, indoor carbon dioxide concentrations are usually below 1,000 ppm in homes, schools, and offices, but they can easily reach 2,000 to 5,000 ppm if indoor air is not properly ventilated or if the number of people inside increases, which can pose a threat to health.

[0003] In particular, it is known that exposure to carbon dioxide in the concentration range of 1,000 to 3,000 ppm for just a few hours can impair physical correction, learning, decision-making, problem-solving, and cognition abilities, and exposure to 2,000 to 4,000 ppm for just a few hours can induce inflammation, and increased carbon dioxide concentrations can cause diseases such as sleep disturbance, headache, fatigue, drowsiness, reduced concentration, and reduced productivity. Furthermore, if continuously exposed to carbon dioxide in the concentration range of 1,000 to 5,000 ppm, it can cause serious health problems such as inflammation, bone demineralization, renal calcification, respiratory acidosis, physiological disorders, obesity, and oxidative stress.

[0004] Therefore, various methods have been attempted in the past to reduce indoor carbon dioxide concentrations, such as using strong alkaline solutions like sodium hydroxide and potassium hydroxide, using weak alkaline solutions like sodium carbonate and potassium carbonate, using amine solutions, and using dry adsorbents impregnated with alkaline substances on specific supports. However, these methods each cause environmental pollution, such as chemical fumes or decomposition products, so they have limitations as they are not suitable for reducing indoor carbon dioxide.

[0005] Accordingly, the present invention has been devised to resolve the aforementioned problems and aims to provide an air conditioner equipped with a carbon dioxide reduction device that can maintain indoor air in a comfortable state at all times and contribute to the improvement of user health by converting the concentration of carbon dioxide contained in indoor or outdoor air to a level harmless to the human body and then recirculating it indoors or discharging it outdoors.

[0006] According to one embodiment, the present invention for achieving the above-mentioned purpose comprises: a carbon dioxide reduction device (100) that converts high concentrations of carbon dioxide into low concentrations by capturing carbon dioxide in the air; a supply fan (200) that supplies air into the room; a filter (400) that filters foreign substances including fine dust or harmful substances in the air; a circulation air damper (500) into which indoor air is introduced; an outdoor air damper (600) into which outdoor air is introduced; an exhaust fan (800) that exhausts air to the outside; and a carbon dioxide storage tank (900) that stores carbon dioxide in the air exhausted to the outside.

[0007] In addition, according to one embodiment, the carbon dioxide reduction device (100) comprises: an air pump (110) for introducing air (outside air or inside air); a carbon dioxide adsorption / desorption reactor (130) for supplying air containing carbon dioxide converted to a low concentration by adsorbing carbon dioxide in the air to a room; a heater (140) added to the carbon dioxide adsorption / desorption reactor (130) to heat the carbon dioxide adsorption / desorption reactor (130) when the carbon dioxide concentration becomes saturated to separate the carbon dioxide adsorbed on the dry carbon dioxide adsorbent; and a measuring unit (150) for measuring the concentration of carbon dioxide in the air and discharging air containing carbon dioxide to the outside when the measured concentration of carbon dioxide is above a certain value.

[0008] In addition, according to one embodiment, the carbon dioxide adsorption / desorption reactor (130) comprises: an outer casing (131) constituting a sealed container of a certain volume; a dry carbon dioxide adsorbent filled inside the outer casing; an air intake port (133) provided on one side of the outer casing to suck in air containing carbon dioxide and supply it toward the lower side of the outer casing; and an outlet port (135) through which the air introduced into the air intake port flows upward from the lower side of the outer casing (131), and after the carbon dioxide in the air is captured by the dry carbon dioxide adsorbent, the remaining air is discharged outside the outer casing.

[0009] In addition, according to one embodiment, the dry carbon dioxide adsorbent is characterized as being an activated carbon adsorbent.

[0010] In addition, according to one embodiment, air containing a high concentration of carbon dioxide introduced through an outdoor air damper (600) is converted into air containing a low concentration of carbon dioxide through a carbon dioxide reduction device (100) and then supplied to the indoor space via a filter (400) and a supply fan (200), and the indoor air supplied to the indoor space is converted back into air containing a low concentration of carbon dioxide via a circulation air damper (500), a carbon dioxide reduction device (100), a filter (400), and a supply fan (200) and then supplied back to the indoor space.

[0011] In addition, according to one embodiment, the heater is characterized by heating the carbon dioxide reduction device (100) to 70 to 100°C to separate the carbon dioxide adsorbed on the carbon dioxide reduction device (100), and then discharging the air with reduced carbon dioxide through the exhaust fan (800) to the outside or sending the separated carbon dioxide to a carbon dioxide storage tank (900) for storage.

[0012] The present invention, as described above, is environmentally friendly as it does not generate any harmful substances during the process of adsorbing and reducing carbon dioxide in the air, and has the effect of contributing to the improvement of the user's health by maintaining the indoor carbon dioxide concentration below the level of atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration.

[0013] In addition, the carbon dioxide adsorbed through the carbon dioxide reduction device of the present invention can be recycled for the production of useful resources, thereby contributing to the alleviation of the climate crisis.

[0014] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an air conditioner equipped with the carbon dioxide reduction device of the present invention.

[0015] FIG. 2 is an air flow diagram of an air conditioner equipped with a carbon dioxide reduction device for outdoor air purification according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0016] FIG. 3 is an air flow diagram of an air conditioner equipped with a carbon dioxide reduction device for internal purification according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0017] FIG. 4 is a flowchart of the carbon dioxide external emission regeneration of the carbon dioxide reduction device according to the present invention.

[0018] FIG. 5 is a regeneration flowchart for carbon dioxide storage of a carbon dioxide reduction device according to the present invention.

[0019] FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram of a carbon dioxide reduction device according to the present invention.

[0020] FIG. 7 is a reactor configuration diagram of a carbon dioxide reduction device according to the present invention.

[0021] Figure 8 is a graph of the change in indoor carbon dioxide concentration after the application of the present invention.

[0022] The terms used herein are used merely to describe specific embodiments and are not intended to limit the invention. Singular expressions include plural expressions unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. In this specification, terms such as “comprising,” “having,” or “having” are intended to indicate the existence of the features, numbers, steps, actions, components, parts, or combinations thereof described herein, and should be understood as not precluding the existence or addition of one or more other features, numbers, steps, actions, components, parts, or combinations thereof.

[0023] Unless otherwise defined in this specification, all terms used herein, including technical or scientific terms, have the same meaning as generally understood by those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains.

[0024] Terms such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries should be interpreted as having meanings consistent with their meanings in the context of the relevant technology, and should not be interpreted in an ideal or overly formal sense unless explicitly defined in this specification.

[0025] Hereinafter, the configuration and operational relationship of an air conditioner equipped with a carbon dioxide reduction device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be examined in detail with reference to the attached drawings.

[0026] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an air conditioner equipped with a carbon dioxide reduction device of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an air flow diagram of an air conditioner equipped with a carbon dioxide reduction device for outdoor air purification according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 3 is an air flow diagram of an air conditioner equipped with a carbon dioxide reduction device for indoor air purification according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 4 is a flow diagram of the carbon dioxide outdoor air discharge regeneration of the carbon dioxide reduction device according to the present invention, FIG. 5 is a regeneration flow diagram for carbon dioxide storage of the carbon dioxide reduction device according to the present invention, FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram of the carbon dioxide reduction device according to the present invention, and FIG. 7 is a configuration diagram of the reactor of the carbon dioxide reduction device according to the present invention.

[0027] First, the air conditioner of the present invention comprises: a carbon dioxide reduction device (100) that converts high concentrations of carbon dioxide into low concentrations by capturing carbon dioxide in the air; a supply fan (200) that supplies air into the room; a filter (400) that filters foreign substances including fine dust or harmful substances in the air; a circulation air damper (500) into which indoor air is introduced; an outdoor air damper (600) into which outdoor air is introduced; an exhaust fan (800) that exhausts air to the outside; and a carbon dioxide storage tank (900) that stores carbon dioxide in the air exhausted to the outside.

[0028] Referring to FIG. 1 according to one embodiment, the air conditioner of the present invention comprises: a carbon dioxide reduction device (100) for converting high concentration carbon dioxide contained in the air to a low concentration; a supply fan (200) for supplying outdoor air containing low concentration carbon dioxide that has passed through the carbon dioxide reduction device (100) into the indoor space; an evaporator coil (300); a filter (400) for filtering fine dust and harmful substances, etc.; a circulating air damper (500); an outdoor air damper (600); a condenser coil (700); an exhaust fan (800); and a carbon dioxide storage tank (900).

[0029] Here, the carbon dioxide reduction device (100) uses a dry carbon dioxide adsorbent, and according to one embodiment, the dry carbon dioxide adsorbent may be an activated carbon adsorbent combined with hydroxyl groups that does not generate harmful vapors or organic decomposition substances during the adsorption and desorption process of carbon dioxide. The configuration of the carbon dioxide reduction device (100) will be examined in more detail below.

[0030] Meanwhile, the indoor carbon dioxide purification process according to the present invention is divided into an outdoor air purification process and an indoor air purification process.

[0031] Referring to FIG. 2, in the outdoor air purification process, outdoor air introduced through the outdoor air damper (600) passes through the carbon dioxide reduction device (100), and, for example, high concentrations of carbon dioxide of 400 ppm or more contained in the outdoor air are converted to low concentrations of 200 ppm or less.

[0032] Next, the outdoor air converted to the low concentration above passes through a filter (400), an evaporator coil (300), and a supply fan (200) in sequence, and clean air containing carbon dioxide at a low concentration of 200 ppm or less is supplied to the indoors.

[0033] Meanwhile, referring to FIG. 3, the indoor air purification process converts indoor air (indoor air) containing a high concentration of carbon dioxide of 800 ppm or more into clean air containing a low concentration of carbon dioxide of 400 ppm or less by passing it through a circulating air damper (500), a carbon dioxide reduction device (100), a filter (400), an evaporator coil (300), and a supply fan (200), and then recirculates it into the indoor air.

[0034] Meanwhile, referring to Figures 4 and 5, the process for discharging carbon dioxide into the atmosphere (outdoors) is as follows.

[0035] First, outside air introduced through the outdoor air damper (600) captures carbon dioxide contained in the outside air through the carbon dioxide reduction device (100). At this time, when the carbon dioxide reduction device (100) becomes saturated with carbon dioxide due to continuous carbon dioxide capture, carbon dioxide is separated from the dry carbon dioxide adsorbent of the carbon dioxide reduction device (100) by heating the carbon dioxide reduction device (100) to 70~100℃. Afterwards, the outside air from which the carbon dioxide has been separated passes through the condenser coil (700) and the exhaust fan (800) in sequence, and is finally discharged to the outside as shown in FIG. 4.

[0036] Meanwhile, referring to FIG. 5, the separated carbon dioxide is stored in a carbon dioxide storage tank (900) to be recycled for resource production, either optionally or simultaneously with the outdoor discharge shown in FIG. 4, unlike the outdoor discharge shown in FIG. 4.

[0037] That is, air containing a high concentration of carbon dioxide introduced through the outdoor air damper (600) is converted into air containing a low concentration of carbon dioxide through the carbon dioxide reduction device (100) and then supplied to the indoor space via the filter (400) and the supply fan (200), and the indoor air supplied to the indoor space is converted back into air containing a low concentration of carbon dioxide via the circulation air damper (500), the carbon dioxide reduction device (100), the filter (400), and the supply fan (200) and then supplied back to the indoor space.

[0038] Referring to FIG. 6, we will examine in detail the configuration and operation relationship of a carbon dioxide reduction device (100) that directly performs the carbon dioxide reduction function.

[0039] In addition, according to one embodiment, the carbon dioxide reduction device (100) comprises: an air pump (110) for introducing air (outside air or inside air); a carbon dioxide adsorption / desorption reactor (130) for supplying air containing carbon dioxide converted to a low concentration by adsorbing carbon dioxide in the air to a room; a heater (140) added to the carbon dioxide adsorption / desorption reactor (130) to heat the carbon dioxide adsorption / desorption reactor (130) when the carbon dioxide concentration becomes saturated to separate the carbon dioxide adsorbed on the dry carbon dioxide adsorbent; and a measuring unit (150) for measuring the concentration of carbon dioxide in the air and discharging air containing carbon dioxide to the outside when the measured concentration of carbon dioxide is above a certain value.

[0040] First, the operation relationship is such that air (outside air or inside air) is introduced through the air pump (110), then the carbon dioxide in the air is reduced to, for example, 200 ppm or less in the carbon dioxide adsorption / desorption reactor (130) via the moisture supply device (120), and then air containing a low concentration of carbon dioxide is supplied into the room, and then air containing a high concentration of carbon dioxide is discharged (exhausted) to the outside via the measuring unit (150).

[0041] At this time, the heater heats the carbon dioxide reduction device (100) to 70 to 100°C to separate the carbon dioxide adsorbed on the carbon dioxide reduction device (100), and then discharges the air with reduced carbon dioxide through the exhaust fan (800) to the outside or sends the separated carbon dioxide to a carbon dioxide storage tank (900) for storage.

[0042] Specifically, when the carbon dioxide concentration of the carbon dioxide adsorption / desorption reactor (130) reaches a saturation level, the dry carbon dioxide adsorbent of the carbon dioxide adsorption / desorption reactor (130) is heated to 70 to 100°C by a heater (140), thereby separating the carbon dioxide adsorbed on the dry carbon dioxide adsorbent, and, for example, at a carbon dioxide concentration of 5,000 ppm and 99%, is exhausted to the outside or sent to a carbon dioxide storage tank (900).

[0043] In addition, referring to FIG. 7, more specifically, the carbon dioxide adsorption / desorption reactor (130) is provided inside the carbon dioxide reduction device (100) and directly performs the function of adsorbing and desorbing carbon dioxide using a dry carbon dioxide adsorbent.

[0044] According to one embodiment, the carbon dioxide adsorption / desorption reactor (130) comprises: an outer casing (131) constituting a sealed container of a certain volume; a dry carbon dioxide adsorbent filled inside the outer casing; an air intake port (133) provided on one side of the outer casing to suck in air containing carbon dioxide and supply it toward the lower side of the outer casing; and an outlet port (135) through which the air introduced into the air intake port flows upward from the lower side of the outer casing (131), and after the carbon dioxide in the air is captured by the dry carbon dioxide adsorbent, the remaining air is discharged outside the outer casing.

[0045] Here, the dry carbon dioxide adsorbent may be an activated carbon adsorbent combined with hydroxyl groups that does not generate harmful vapors or organic decomposition substances during the adsorption and desorption process of carbon dioxide.

[0046] The above activated carbon fiber adsorbent can exhibit excellent carbon dioxide adsorption performance when the activated carbon fibers are packed in a container with a certain packing density, with the diameter of each activated carbon fiber being several micrometers, allowing carbon dioxide to efficiently diffuse between the activated carbon fibers.

[0047] Specifically, the activated carbon fiber adsorbent used in the present invention comprises: (1) a dry carbon dioxide adsorbent in which a hydroxyl (OH) functional group is electrochemically introduced to activated carbon with a surface area of ​​1,000 m² or more; (2) a dry carbon dioxide adsorbent in which a sodium group is electrochemically introduced to activated carbon with a surface area of ​​1,000 m² or more; (3) a dry carbon dioxide adsorbent in which a potassium group is electrochemically introduced to activated carbon with a surface area of ​​1,000 m² or more; (4) a dry carbon dioxide adsorbent in which a carbonate (CO3) functional group is electrochemically introduced to activated carbon with a surface area of ​​1,000 m² or more; (5) a dry carbon dioxide adsorbent in which sodium hydroxide (NaOH) is deposited on activated carbon with a surface area of ​​1,000 m² or more; (6) a dry carbon dioxide adsorbent in which potassium hydroxide (KOH) is deposited on activated carbon with a surface area of ​​1,000 m² or more; and (7) a dry carbon dioxide adsorbent in which sodium carbonate (NaCO3) is deposited on activated carbon with a surface area of ​​1,000 m² or more. Dry carbon dioxide adsorbent, (8) a dry carbon dioxide adsorbent in which potassium carbonate (K2CO3) is deposited on activated carbon with a surface area of ​​1,000 m² or more, (9) a dry carbon dioxide adsorbent in which sodium hydroxide (NaOH) is deposited on activated carbon with a surface area of ​​1,000 m² or more and a hydroxyl (OH) functional group is introduced electrochemically, (10) a dry carbon dioxide adsorbent in which potassium hydroxide (KOH), etc., is deposited on activated carbon with a surface area of ​​1,000 m² or more and a hydroxyl (OH) functional group is introduced electrochemically, (11) a dry carbon dioxide adsorbent in which sodium carbonate (NaCO3) is deposited on activated carbon with a surface area of ​​1,000 m² or more and a carbonate (CO3) functional group is introduced electrochemically, (12) a dry carbon dioxide adsorbent in which potassium carbonate (K2CO3) is deposited on activated carbon with a surface area of ​​1,000 m² or more and a carbonate (CO3) functional group is introduced electrochemically. A total of 12 or more different types, including dry adsorbents, can be used.

[0048] First, the outer casing (131) of the carbon dioxide adsorption / desorption reactor (130) is filled with an activated carbon adsorbent, and air introduced through the air intake port (133) flows toward the lower part of the outer casing (131) and flows upward, so that carbon dioxide in the air is adsorbed by the dry carbon dioxide adsorbent and the remaining air is discharged to the outside of the reactor (130) through the outlet port (135).

[0049] Figure 8 is a graph showing the change in indoor carbon dioxide concentration after the application of the present invention, through which it can be seen that the air conditioner of the present invention efficiently performs the adsorption and desorption of carbon dioxide.

[0050] Accordingly, through the above-described configuration, the present invention is environmentally friendly as no harmful substances are generated during the process of adsorbing and reducing carbon dioxide in the air, and can achieve the effect of contributing to the improvement of the user's health by maintaining the indoor carbon dioxide concentration below the level of atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration.

[0051] In addition, the carbon dioxide adsorbed through the carbon dioxide reduction device of the present invention can be recycled for the production of useful resources, thereby achieving the effect of contributing to the climate crisis.

[0052] Furthermore, the present invention is not limited solely to the embodiment described above. Since the same effect can be achieved even when the detailed configuration, number, or arrangement structure of the device is changed, it is hereby specified that those skilled in the art can add, delete, or modify various configurations within the scope of the technical concept of the present invention.

[0053] The present invention can be widely used in the field of air conditioners equipped with carbon dioxide reduction devices.

Claims

1. A carbon dioxide reduction device (100) that converts high concentrations of carbon dioxide to low concentrations by capturing carbon dioxide from the air; A supply fan (200) that supplies air into the room; A filter (400) that filters foreign substances containing fine dust or harmful substances in the air; Circulating air damper (500) into which indoor air is introduced; Outdoor air damper (600) into which outside air is introduced; An exhaust fan (800) for exhausting air to the outside; and, An air conditioner comprising a carbon dioxide storage tank (900) that stores carbon dioxide in the air exhausted to the outside.

2. In Paragraph 1, The above carbon dioxide reduction device (100) is, An air pump (110) that introduces air; A carbon dioxide adsorption / desorption reactor (130) that adsorbs carbon dioxide from the air and supplies air containing carbon dioxide converted to a low concentration to the room; A heater (140) added to the carbon dioxide adsorption / desorption reactor (130) and, when the carbon dioxide concentration becomes saturated, heats the carbon dioxide adsorption / desorption reactor (130) to separate the carbon dioxide adsorbed on the dry carbon dioxide adsorbent; and, An air conditioner comprising: a measuring unit (150) that measures the concentration of carbon dioxide in the air and discharges air containing carbon dioxide to the outside when the measured concentration of carbon dioxide exceeds a certain value.

3. In Paragraph 2, The above carbon dioxide adsorption / desorption reactor (130) is, An outer casing (131) constituting a sealed container of a certain volume; A dry carbon dioxide adsorbent filled inside the above-mentioned enclosure; An air intake port (133) provided on one side of the above-mentioned outer casing to suck in air containing carbon dioxide and supply it to the lower side of the outer casing; and, An air conditioner comprising: an outlet (135) through which air introduced through the air intake flows upward from the bottom of the enclosure (131), and after carbon dioxide in the air is captured by a dry carbon dioxide adsorbent, the remaining air is discharged to the outside of the enclosure.

4. In Paragraph 3, An air conditioner characterized in that the above dry carbon dioxide adsorbent is an activated carbon adsorbent.

5. In Paragraph 1, Air containing a high concentration of carbon dioxide introduced through the outdoor air damper (600) is converted into air containing a low concentration of carbon dioxide through the carbon dioxide reduction device (100), and then supplied to the indoors through the filter (400) and the supply fan (200). An air conditioner characterized in that the indoor air supplied to the above indoor space passes through a circulating air damper (500), a carbon dioxide reduction device (100), a filter (400), and a supply fan (200), is converted back into air containing a low concentration of carbon dioxide, and then is supplied back to the indoor space.

6. In Paragraph 2, The above heater is characterized by heating the carbon dioxide reduction device (100) to 70 to 100°C to separate the carbon dioxide adsorbed on the carbon dioxide reduction device (100), and then discharging the air with reduced carbon dioxide to the outside through the exhaust fan (800) or sending the separated carbon dioxide to a carbon dioxide storage tank (900) for storage.

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